Introducing FUNdraising Good Times

Welcome to FUNdraising Good Times, your place for how-to information on the often mysterious topic of fundraising. FUNdraising Good Times is written for those who manage, work for, or provide volunteer leadership for non-profit organizations and institutions. The column is designed to help you and the organizations and institutions you believe in attract and retain resources and leadership needed for success.

It’s written by the two of us – Mel and Pearl Shaw. We are a husband and wife team with over 50 years combined experience in the fields of fundraising and marketing. We work with organizations and institutions across the country. Many of our clients are historically Black colleges or universities, some are churches, and others are local organizations, hospitals and professional associations. We have written two books based on our experience: Prerequisites for Fundraising Success and The Fundraiser’s Guide to Soliciting Gifts. Together with this column they are our way of sharing what we have learned over the years.

We have seen firsthand how non-profits play a key role in our communities. They provide emergency services, educational and recreational programs, healthcare, legal services, job training and mentors to generation-after-generation. Colleges, universities, churches and hospitals play a key role in educating, saving, and healing our family members and the community. Non-profits are staffed by people – paid employees and volunteers – who are knowledgeable, skilled, committed and passionate about making a difference.

For many non-profits nothing is guaranteed, and an organization’s or institution’s financial health often lies in the hands of its top leadership – its executive director, president or CEO, fundraising personnel, and those who serve as board members, trustees and volunteer fundraisers. This is true of local programs that counsel people with HIV/AIDS, those that provide after school programs, as well as more established institutions such as our historically Black colleges and universities.

Board members are committed and skilled, coming together to provide guidance, oversight, policy and direction, often after the end of a long day at work. Executive directors, presidents, and CEOs are visionary, talented, and often over-worked. Volunteers at all levels look for ways they can make a difference. These are the people that FUNdraising Good Times is written for.

Fundraising is all about people and money. These are the keys to a non-profit’s success, and both need to be used wisely and with great care. Prior topics have included, prerequisites for fundraising success, creating your fundraising plan, how to write a proposal, building your board of directors, and the thrills and perils of special events. Future columns will feature interviews with funders, donors, executive directors, presidents, board members, and fundraising professionals. We will also look to hear from you and learn the issues you are grappling with. We want to support your fundraising success.

We call the column FUNdraising Good Times because we believe fundraising doesn’t have to be drudgery – in fact it can be fun! Learn more about Mel and Pearl Shaw at www.saadandshaw.com.